Inspiration Alley

Digital Woes

Arghhh ...

I went to use my digital (Pentax Optio A-10) which I have had for just about 3 years now, and it wouldn't work.  It worked the day before, but not today.  It turns on and you get the welcome screen, then it fades to grey and turns off.

So I called a local authorized repair center and they quoted $129 to fix with a 6 month warranty.  So I'm on the decision edge.  I could fix my camera, or I could spend a little more and just go out and buy a new one.  I guess they don't really make cameras that can be fixed anymore. 

I've spent a good portion of this evening looking at different specs of digital cameras.  I know I just want a point and shoot rather than a Digital SLR, I know I want a compact one so I can carry it in my purse at all times, and I know I want one that uses SD cards since I have so many from my current camera.

The following are my front runners.

Canon A2000IS - 10MP/6Xoptical zoom/AA batteries  $169

Canon D10 - 12MP/3X optical zoom   $309

Canon SX200IS - 12mp/12X optical zoom    $299.

Nikon S630 - 12mp/7X optical zoom $239

I've read all the reviews on each, good and bad - it gets confusing after awhile.  They all have good points and bad points.  I'm leaning towards the SX200IS because I really want the zoom feature.  I have some birthday money so the timing is right, I won't need to save up to make the purchase.

If anyone had or has any of the above, or has another recommendation, I'd appreciate the input.

I'm hoping to buy one this weekend - I can't live without a camera. 

Feeling in a Fall Mood

Changed the blog design to herald in the season change.

Here in Florida it's the only way because we don't really have much in the way of a change in seasons.  It's still hot and humid.  I can't wait for it to get a little cooler.  My house was built in the 50s, back before air conditioning was in every home, so it's designed to pick up breezes.  We don't have central air, and this summer has been a brutal one.  I am looking forward to a drop in temperatures.  I do have a wall unit in the bedroom which makes it comfortable to sleep, but the rest of the house has no A/C.

Yesterday had a great birthday dinner at my mother in laws - she made homemade chicken kiev - my favorite and there was even some left over to take home.  Chocolate cake too.

I think that's the last "celebration" of my birthday month.

Note to Self ...

Don't buy Halloween candy until October 30th.

I was at the local CVS today to buy Omega 3 supplements that were on a BOGO special, and they had all this Halloween candy displayed.  I LOVE chocolate.  But I also know that it is not good for me.  Well, if I could keep it in moderation it wouldn't be bad, but chocolate and moderation never find their way into the same sentence.  I saw the sale ... so wanted to buy some chocolate ... but made it out of the store without buying any.  I know that if I buy it now it would be gone before October 31st.  I don't even know why I buy it anyway, the last several years I think I've only had one kid come by for Halloween.

It's sad because it is one of my favorite holidays.  I wish I had a reason to get dressed up.  This year it's on a Saturday otherwise I'd get dressed in costume for work. 

I also looked at some Halloween lights - I might go back tomorrow and buy them.  I trying hard to stay on a budget, and Halloween decorations just aren't a necessity, but the lights were very cute - and since I'll be home for Halloween this year, it would be fun to put up the lights.  I made the decision to think about it some rather than make an impulse buy.  If I go back tomorrow to buy the lights I'll have to face the gauntlet of Halloween candy again but I can do it one more time.

Stephen King coming to Florida

One of my favorite authors is Stephen King and he will be in Sarasota Florida in November - I so wanted to go, but I will be in Oklahoma for work.  I know many of my friends on that side of the state read his work so if you're interested he will be speaking at the VanWezel.  He'll be talking about his new book called "Under the Dome". 

I'm having a wish I could go moment.

OK ... that's enough of that. 

I do have a picture of me and him when he came to Miami for a bookshow.  I think it was in 1998 and he played with the Rock Bottom Remainders.  Ahhh Memories.

Great Mail Day

Yesterday, I got some fun stuff in the mail

From Hilltop Memories I received the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Collection Pack, and the Teresa Collins Documented Envelope Album Kit, (plus I put down my deposit on the Utah trip coming in June2010).

From Creative Boutique I got a whole bunch of Stampendous Cling Stamps - I think I ordered every Fluffles the cat stamp that she had.  This is a store from the same people that bring you the KnK kit club.  Where was I when the store was announced.  I didn't know.  The one thing I do know is one can never have too many stamps - and the unmounted ones don't take up too much room.

I also bought some stuff from Office Depot - but I won't bore you with those details - just some notebooks and dividers.  The notebooks, I'm going to cover and use for my Christmas Organization book, and another for recipes.  I bought 4 total, and I haven't quited decided what to do with the others.  See, I said I didn't want to bore you, but here I am taking up way too much of your time already.

Come to think of it

I do have some interesting news ...

With all the storms we've been having, somehow, the modem on my TiVo was fried.  You know how I love TiVo.  I called them ... gave them the symptoms ... and they told me exactly what to do.  They referred me to a place that sells external modems for TiVo, and all I had to do was plug it in and set a dial prefix, so now I'm back in business.  I'm looking forward to my regular shows coming back.  I hate that they changed times and days of some, and I still have some conflicts so I'll have to use my VCR as a backup - but all is well in TiVo land again, and not a moment too soon.  I had about one day left of the stored data before the lineup was over.

I've been looking at some of the shows, and it is interesting how there is a "retro" thing going on right now.  They already brought back 90210, and now Melrose Place, plus Fame is coming out in the theaters.  What's up with that.  I didn't get back into 90210, and watched the first episode of Melrose, but wasn't feeling it - so I'm not watching many of the revival series.  I do love a good reality TV show, so I'm looking forward to the Amazing Race which starts the 27th I think.

My Life is just ....

not all that interesting.

I could prattle on about work or the commute which is where most of my life goes, but that's oh so boring and just get's my blood pressure up. 

There haven't been many car shows because it's been raining for the last several weekends.

I could write for a very long time on my favorite shows, but Big Brother has ended and the new season shows haven't started yet.

I could tell you my high scores in Bejeweled, Farkle, Egg Breaker, or now Egg Drop, but if you're one of my facebook friends my scores are proudly displayed in the feeds.

Hmmm ... scrapping / stamping ? ... nope, not since the FGT Hilltop Crop.

I guess I'm going to have to just go on out and stir up some excitement, so I have something to write about.

Donation Time

This weekend I'm pulling stuff together to donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America.  You know how you always say ... I'm going to donate that and then never make the time to get to the donation center, or they are closed when you have time to go ... well that's me anyway.  Well the VVA has it all together.  They send you a postcard in the mail and say "We'll be in your area on "insert date here" so call us and we'll make a stop.  You don't even have to be home, just leave it by your door clearly marked for the VVA.  How easy is that !  They leave a receipt and everything.

Have lots of clothes and "stuff" to donate - sort of a cleaning out before the holidays come.

Every year, I say I'm gong to follow along with the Holiday Houseworks Plan, but I always drop into the site way too late to ever get anything accomplished.  This year, I'm right on time, and I'm definately going to do it.  Come October I'll be ready for the Christmas Countdown plan which gets you organized for Christmas.  I think baby steps is what I need.

If I reach the desired outcome my brother will be very surprised when he comes to watch the cats in November.  So this is our secret, and if anyone out there wants to join along, just let me know and we can compare notes and horror stories.  You'll know if it's worked if I actually get Christmas cards out in the mail.

Never Forget

Please observe a moment of prayer for what we lost as a nation that day. 
Our lives have been changed forever.

9/11/2001
Never Forget

My new favorite show

there's a new show on Food Network called Chefs VS City where they pit two food network chefs (Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez against two local chefs.  They compete by racing around the city performing different tasks.  It's sort of like Food Network meets the Amazing Race.  The one thing it does do, is show you some cool sites throughout the cities.  My favorite episode so far was Las Vegas where they went to the bar called Minus 5 where everything is carved from ice including the tables and seats.  Makes me want to hop on a plane just to see it.

The funny part of the show is there is usually a food eating challenge.  They had to eat 100 items you would find at a buffet in Las Vegas, and another they ate deserts.  Too funny to watch how they can barely complete the challenge.

I haven't been officially keeping score, but it seems that the wins have been pretty even so far.  Some times the home team wins and sometimes the Food Network chefs win.

It's a neat show to watch.